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Contouring and Topo Maps

Twice during college I was taught to do hand contouring. One time in a meteorology class where the class was drawing isobars and isotherms on a weather map. One time in a geology class where we were drawing the topographical contours on an elevation map. I really enjoyed those exercises, but both times I remember thinking, “This is elementary school level.”

Contouring teaches both estimation and spatial visualization skills. To have experience visualizing 3 dimensional fields from a 2 dimensional map helps students throughout their mathematical career. You can’t start too soon, and it is so easy!